Encouraging initiative

Amid the waves of protests that have engulfed Jakarta and other cities throughout this country in the wake of the combined U.S.-British air and missile attacks in Afghanistan, the initiative taken this week by a small section of Jakarta's civilian community deserves our attention.

Concerned about the possibility of violence breaking out in their neighborhood and mindful of the fact that the police cannot always be counted on to be present if and when they are needed, residents and representatives of businesses located along Jl. Jaksa -- a small but bustling side-street in the Kebon Sirih area in Central Jakarta -- on Wednesday took it upon themselves to form a Community Communications Forum Against the Sweeping of Foreigners.

Such "sweeps" or "sweepings" -- seeking out foreign nationals and forcing them to leave this country -- were conducted by militant elements in the Central Javanese city of Surakarta several weeks ago. Following that lead, similar threats have been made by militants in Jakarta and elsewhere in defiance of a government warning that such action would invite stern action by the authorities.

Jl. Jaksa's answer to this threat is to intensify the 24-hour patrols along the street -- a security measure that has been in place for years -- to keep out any intruders who might wish to harm tourists staying or visiting there. In the face of such threats, though, the Jl. Jaksa Community Forum remains entirely peaceful in its intentions. "Should there be groups or individuals who try to enter the street and cause a disturbance, we will negotiate with them first. If that fails, we will call for police assistance," says Max Wekan, the forum's deputy chief. Proving to be as good as their word, residents on Wednesday barred a group of anti-American protesters from entering the street.

That such an initiative should have come from such an insignificant side-street as Jl. Jaksa is easy enough to understand. For many years, Jl. Jaksa has been a popular place to stay for tourists traveling on a tight budget hailing from Europe, America, Australia, Japan and elsewhere.

It would in all probability not be too far off the mark to say that the concern of Jl. Jaksa's residents and business community is for the most part full of self-interest. With the economic slump continuing to drag on and investors being scared off by the threats of violence against them, tourism -- or what remains of it -- is at present possibly about the only source of income Indonesians can look to. The stomach, it has been said, cannot wait. The step from commercialism to compassion and humanity, however, may not be as long as one may be led to believe.

Whatever the case may be though, the action taken by the Jl. Jaksa community deserves the full support of the city's authorities. Indeed, it may serve the Jakarta city authorities as an inspiration on how to initiate one of the most effective ways to step up security and order in the Indonesian capital: by encouraging community initiatives.

So far, the Jl. Jaksa Community Communications Forum Against the Sweeping of Foreigners has the pledged support of the local subdistrict head, Sutopo, and, presumably, of the Menteng Police. That, of course, is good. But it is not enough. Now that Jl. Jaksa has set an example, Jakarta's city authorities must take up the lead and expand this model -- more or less -- of ensuring security and order in the community by encouraging community initiatives. If Jl. Jaksa can do it, why not other neighborhoods?